Overhead garage door



a l I March 23, 1937. I A, STEINER I 2,014,347 I OVERHEAD GARAGE noon Fi'led Jan. 9, 1936- 2 sheet -she t 1 /////t\ Y A March 23, 1937. A. STEINE R r OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR Filed Jan; 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '17- S Zeifl r Patented Mar. 23, 1937 1 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFica 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an overhead garage door, and it is an object of the invention to provide a door of this kind having associated therewith means whereby the same may be readily moved into open or closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door of this kind which is held in closed position by means capable of being released under the weight of an approaching vehicle, together with means for automatically moving the door into open position after said holding means has been released.

The invention consists in the details of constructlon and in the combination and arrange- 1 ment of the several parts of my improved over-.

head garagedoor whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be 20 hereinafter more 'fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a garage with parts in elevation illustrating a door structure embodying my inven- 30 tion;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is'a detailed fragmentary sectional 35 view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig-' ure 1;

Figure 4 is a. view' in top plan of the structure as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken sub- 0 stantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

As disclosed inthe accompanying drawings, B denotes a building structure of a type generally employed for use as a garage and which is provided in one of its walls with an entrance opening I with which is associated the door D. Each side of the door opening I is'deflned by a jamb 2 extending from the bottom to the top of the open- 50 ing l. Each side marginal portion of the door D is received within a grooved guideway 3 provided in a jamb 2 whereby the "door has a substantially fixed path of travel into open or closed position. The door D is of a flexible type comprising a suitable number of hingedly. connected strips or panvels t, each'of which being provided along one longitudinal margin with a rear rabbet 5 and at its opposite longitudinal marginal portion with a rearwardly arranged flange or tongue 6 to extend within a rabbet 5 of a succeeding strip or panel. 5' This, however, is not true of the lowermost panel which, of course, has its outer longitudinal marginal edge unobstructed.

Supported above the door opening i and extending inwardly from the wall 'l of the structure 1 B in which said opening l is provided is a frame F comprising parallel side members 8 and a rear cross member 9. This cross member 9 is preferably of a length to bridge the space between opposed side members of the structure 13 and suit- 15 ably secured thereto whereby the frame F is further maintained in applied position.

The inner or opposed faces of the members 13 of the frame F are provided along their rear portions with the spaced rollers l0 over which rides the upper portion of the door D as it is retracted into open position with respect to the opening-l and, of course, as the door D travels back to closed position. The forward portions of these members 8 at a point closely adjacent to their inner ends each has arranged closely adjacent thereto a guide pulley ll over which the door D passes. As'herein disclosed, each of the pulleys ii is provided with the peripheral facets a each of which being straight and of a length substantially equal to the width of the inner or contacting faces of a strip or panel 4 of the door D. The pulleys H, as

- herein disclosed, are mounted upon a shaft l2 bridging the space between the side members 8 of the frame F and supported by said members. It is also to'be stated that if desired additional pulleys may be arranged upon the shaft l2 at spaced points between the members 8.

The uppermost strip or panel 4 of the door D at substantially its longitudinal center has secured thereto, as at M, an end portion of an outwardly disposed flat arm IS. The outer end of this arm l5 carries a depending flange l6 and an upstanding flange l1. Interposed between the outer end portion of the arm 15 and the extremities of the associated cross member or panel 4 are the bracing struts I8 whichmay be flexible or otherwise and which serve to maintain the arm I5 in desired position substantially at right angles to the cross member or panel d. Y

Secured to the depending flange I6 is an end portion of a flexible member l9 which extends rearwardly over a pulley 22 rotatably supported between a pair of bracket arms'23'herein disclosed assecured to the rear wall of the structure B or the flexible member I9 is directly secured. The

lower portions of the members 25 carry a bar 28 of a' length to extend beyond the opposite ends of the weights 25, as illustrated in Figure 4, and the extremities of this bar 28 are directed through the frames 29 secured to the wall 24. These frames 29 are vertically disposed and substantially in parallel relation and each of said frames is substantially U-shaped in form with its base or intermediate member 29 outwardly disposed.

Each of the frames 29 is provided in its upper rear portion with a plate 30 which may be integrally formed with the upper side member of the frame 29 or otherwise maintained in desired position. The forward edge of the applied .plate 35 is slightly spaced from the member 29 of the frame wherebyis provided a slot 3| along which an end portion of the rod 29 may be shifted. This forward vertical edge of the plate 30 is also provided with a series of notches 32 into which an end portion of the rod 28 is adapted to be selectively engaged whereby the rod 28 as desired may be supported at diflerent elevations with respect to the bottom of the frame or more particularly the floor surface of the building structure.

Substantially bridging the space between the frames 29 and more particularly the plates 39 thereof is an arch member M substantially U- shaped in form and having the outer extremities of its side members 33 outwardly disposed to provide trunnions 34, each of which being disposed through a plate 30 at a point below but in close proximity to the entrance or open end of the uppermost slot 32. Normally this arch member M is disposed on an upward and slightly rearward incline as illustrated in Figure 1, with the side arms- 33 thereof each extending across the inner lower portion of a notch 32 with the intermediate member 35 of the member M resting from above upon a block 35 adjustably mounted upon the lower portion of a vertically directed rod 51.-

The block 35 is held in desired adjusted position upon the rod 31, as illustrated in Figure 1, by a holding screw 38 threading into the block 35 for binding contact with the rod 31.

This rod 31 is freely disposed through the outstanding guide members 59 carried by the wall 24 of the building structure and the upper portion of the rod 31 carries a substantially horizontally disposed elongated arm 40 provided at its outer end portion with an eye 4| through which the flexible member l9 freely passes. When the door D is in its closed position as illustrated in Figure 1 a stop member 42 clamped to the flexible member i9 is in contact from below with the arm 40 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to.

Extending within the structure B through the front wall 1 thereof and preferably above the frame F and the bracket arms 23 is a flexible member 43. This member 43 passes around suitably positioned guide pulleys 44 arranged exteriorly and interiorly upon the wall I and over a guide pulley 45 rotatably supported between the bracket arms 25 adjacent the inner ends thereof.

the entrance opening I.

This member 43 is also freely disposed through the upstanding flange I! of the arm 15 hereinbefore referred to.

The inner extremity of the flexible member 45 is anchored, as at 45, to the rear wall preferably at a point above the frames 29 and below the bracket arms 23, and freely engaged with the member 43 between the pulley 45 and the point of attachment 46 is a weighted member 41. This weighted member 41 normally maintains in desired retracted position a contact head or member 48 fixed to the member 43 at a point between the pulley 45 and the upstanding flange ll of the arm l5. This normal position of the contact head or member 48, as illustrated in Figure l, is at a point closely adjacent to the pulley 45. With the head or member 48 in its normal position it is to be noted that the member 43 is of a length to have a considerable portion disposed exteriorly of the structure B so that the same may be readily rasped by the hand of a person for the reasons to be later explained.

The lowermost panel or strip 4 of the door D at substantially its longitudinal center carries an inwardly directed staple or the like providing an elongated bar 49 upon which is mounted a latch 50. This latch 55 has swinging movement and is shiftable along the bar 49. The floor of the building structure B between the rear portions of the jambs 2 of the opening I is provided with an upstanding keeper 5| having an elongated locking bar 52 positioned below the bar 49 and substantially co-extensive in length therewith. 'When the door D is in its lowermost position as indicated in Figure 1, the latch 55 is engaged'with the bar 52 of the keeper to hold the door in closed position. As particularly illustrated in Figure 1, it is to be noted that the lower end of the latch 55 is provided with a cam face 53 whereby as the door D moves into fully closed position the latch 5il will be automatically operated by contact with the bar 52 to permit the latch to engage said bar 52 from below when the door D is fully closed.

Worlaag from below through the floor 54 of the building structure B is a plunger 55. This plunger 55 travels in a vertical path below substantially the longitudinal center of the bar 49. 4

This plunger -55 rests from above upon an end portion of a rock arm 55 so that as said end portion of the lever 55 is moved upwardly, the plunger 55 will be brought into contact from below with the cam edge of the latch 55 to swing said latch into open position withrespect to the bar 49 to permit the door D to be raised into open position. Thelatch 55 will be held in its open or release position until the plunger 55 is permitted to drop or lower.

The rod 55 is of a desired length and extends within a housing H arranged below the road surface and at a desired point in advance of This lever 55 intermediate its ends is pivotally supported, as at 51, for required rocking movement and the outer end portion of this lever 55 or the end portion thereof within the housing H carries a vertically adjustable member 55 herein disclosed as a bolt tl-readedthrough said end portion of the lever. The upper face of the housing H is open but is rormally closed by a platform P having a marginal portion hingedly connected at 59 to the inner or rear wall of the housing H. Thisplatsprings being interposed between the platform 1? and the bottom of the housing H.

The platform P at one end is provided with a depending arcuate plate 6| provided with a,

this sidewall 63 is a pin 64. This pin 64 is also o disposed through the slot 62 and the inner end of the pin carries a head 65 of a diameter greater than the width of the lower or restricted portion ,of the slot 62 but which will readily pass through the upper or larger portion of the slot. This pin 5 34 coacts with the lower end of the slot 62 to limit the extent of upward movement of the platform 1? under theaction of the springs 66 and to also normally prevent raising of the platform P into an inoperative position above the housing 0 H. However, when it is desired to have access within the housing H it is only necessary to impose sufficient pressure upon the platform P, as I an end portion of a motor vehicle, tolower the platform P sufllcient to bring the enlarged portion of theslot 62 in proper alignment with the head 65 of the pin 64 whereupon the outer end portion of the pin 34 can be grasped to pull the pin outwardly a. distance to bring the head 65 into a position between the plate 6l and the adjacent end wall 63, it being understood'that the plate 6|, as illustrated in Figure 4, is sufficiently spaced from this end wall 63 to receive the head 65. The same operation is performed to return the pin 64 to its working or active position with respect to'the plate 6i.

The strips or panels 4 are maintained in desired assembled relation in the present embodiment of my invention by the flexible members ill of which the struts iii are continuations. Secured to these members i8 between the two uppermost strips or panels 4 are the blocks 66. These applied blocks serve effectually to stop the flexible members it from crowding the panels or strips 3 too tight. This is important as the door D operates best when the adjacent strips or panels 4 are not more than snugly in engagement.

With the door D in closed position and the member 28 resting upon the lower members of the frames 23 and it is desired to place a vehicle within the building structure, the vehicle is driven until the front wheels thereof are upon the platform P. Theweight of the front portion of the vehicle will depress the springs 60 a distance sufficient to raise the plunger 55 to engage the a latch 58 to release the latch 50 from the bar 52. The door D is now free to be raised under the influence of the weights 25. In practice the portion of the lever 56 outwardly of its pivotal mounting 51 is of a length at least two or' three times the length 'of the portion of the lever within the housing inwardly of its mounting. By'this arrangement of the lever 56 only a relatively slight depression of the platform P will be required to raise the plunger 55 to the desired extent to effect the release of the latch 58. With the springs 30 of required tension and upon proper adjustment of the member 58, the weight of a'person will have no effect upon the platform P insofar as pertains to the releasing of the latch 50. After the vehicle enters the building structure the door D is to be manually shifted into closed position and after the door is fully closed the latch ll is mov,ed along the bar 49 to one side of the plunger 55 so that the door will not open should intruders drive onto the platform P or place equivalent weight thereon.

The total of the weights 25 is but little more than the weight of the door D in any position plus what it takes to overcome friction and balance. The weights 25 can be adjusted to a fraction of a pound of what it takes to operate the door to assure an even speed of the door. the door D opens and the weights 25 move downwardly below the frames 29 for further suspension from the rod 28, the total weight is retired in substantially the same ratio as the reduction in resistance offered by the door D as it moves into open position.

After the door has been returned toclosed position the rod 28 is engaged within the upper notches 32 of the plates 30 with'the extremities of said rod 28 resting from above upon the side arms 33 of the yoke member M.

With the .door D open to permit the car to pass out of the building structure B as the same travels through the opening I the operator grasps the extended portion of the flexible member 43 and he imposes pull thereon, the member 48 carried by the flexible member 43 will contact with the upstanding flange ll whereby the door D will be readily moved into closed position. As the member 28 is engaged within the uppermost notches 32 it will be self-evident that in such operation the door D is released of the surplus or additional weight necessary to move the door into open position. It is to be stated at this time that when the door D is in fully open position the flange I1 is closely adjacent to its stop 48 which, as hereinbefore explained, is normally maintained closely adjacent to the pulley 45 under the action of the weighted member 41. Before the door D fully closes the member 42 contacts with the arm 48 whereby the rod'3l together with the member 36 is moved upwardly a distance suflicient to raise the arch member M so that the side arms 33 will throw the member 28 out of the uppermost notch 32 whereby said member 28 will drop to the position illustrated in Figure 1 so that the weights '25 will be in position to effect the desired opening 7 movement of the door upon release of the latch 58.

As the door D moves upwardly into open position, the block 36 will cause the rod 31 to move downwardly so that the yoke memb er M may swing back to permit the rod 28 to be again placed within the-uppermost notches 32. By properly adjusting the block 36 along the rod 31 the releasing of the member 28 by the arms 33 of the yoke member M can be timed to occur within a fraction of an inch before the door D reaches its fully lowered position. It is to-be stated that the normally extended portion of the flexible member 43 should be of a length to permit the same to be grasped by an occupant of the car until it has travelled from within the building structure entirely over and beyond the platform P.

As is particularly shown in- Figure 4 of the drawings, the outer portion of each of the guide members 39 is provided with a slot '39 through which the rod 31 is directed. As is believed to be apparent from the previous'description, when the car is to be taken out through the door open ing I the first step is to retire the surplus weight of the members 25. The slots 39' permit the rod 31 to be moved or swung toward the adjacent wall 24 a distance sufficient to adjust the block 36 to a position entirely free of the member 5 of the arch member M so that the side members 33 will drop to a position entirely below the upper 'notch 32, said limit of downward swinging moveof said rod 23 seated within the upper notches 32.

The forward face of the block 36 is disposed on an inward and downward incline and said block 36 is of such length that after the yoke member M has dropped to its lowered position as determined by the pin 33' and the block 36 swung forward by gravity to its normal position, the in-. clined face of the block 36 will contact with the intermediate member 35 and particularly when the door D is raised into open position. This inclined face of the block 36 will swing the rod 3'5 rearwardly until the rod 31 has passed down a distance suflicient to allow the block 36 to engage under the intermediate member 35 to swing the yoke member upwardly to release the bar 28from the upper notches 32 as has hereinbefore been referred to.

At times it is desired that the door be operated manually. At these times the bar 28 can be engaged within the lower notches 32 or, if preferred, theblock 36 may be adjusted downwardly on the rod 31 to a point whereby the block 36 will be free of contact with the intermediate member 35 of the yoke member M as the rod 3'! is raised during the closing movement of the door D.

It is to be particularly stated that the retarding of the weights will always have to be done when the door is in closed position as it cannot be done when the door is in open position on account ,of the weights being too heavy.

The tension of the springs 60 within the housing H will vary under different temperatures. Therefore, in order to keep the platform from.

40 going down too far, I flnd it of advantage to provide stop plates 60' mounted upon the bottom of the housing 1* and with which the platform will contact from above. The upper edges of these plates 60' are normally spaced a desired distance from the platform P when in its raised position and it is preferred that the upper edge of each of these plates as particularly illustrated in Figure 1, be disposed on a forward and downward incline to compensate for the position of 5 the platform P when at the desired limit of its downward swinging movement.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an overhead garage door constructed in accordance with my inventionis par- 5 ticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible 'of some change and modification without departing from 60 the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:---

1. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a series of flexibly connected weights operatively engaged with the door for moving the door into open position, means for selectively suspending at different heights the outer portion of the flexibly connected weights independently of their connection with the door after the door is in open position to reduce the pull of the weights on the door to facilitate the moving of the door into closed position, and means for freeing the weights from said suspending means before the door reaches fully closed position.

2. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a series of flexibly connected weights operatively engaged with the door for moving the door into open position. means for suspending the weights indepe'ndently of their connection with the door after the door is in open position to reduce the pull of the weights on the door to facilitate the moving of the door into.closed position, and means for automatically freeing the weights from said suspending means before the door reaches fully closed position.

3. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into own or closed position, a flexible member operatively connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible member having a portion depending from the guiding means, a series of flexibly connected weights carried by the depending portion of the flexible member, means for selectively supporting the outer portion of the flexible series of weights at diflerent heights, and automatic means constructed and arranged to operate upon closing movement of the door to release the outer portion of the flexibly connected. weights from a point of upper suspension to permit said portion of the weights to return to the lower point of suspension.

4. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a flexible member operatively connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible member having a portion depending from the guiding means, a series of flexibly connected weights carried by the depending portion of the flexible member, means for selectively supporting the outer portion of the flexible series of weights at diflerent heights, a throw-oil member associated with an upper point of suspension, and means operating during the closing movement of the door to operate said throw-oi! means to release the end portion of the flexibly connected series of weights engaged with the associated point of suspension.

5. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into open or closedposition. a series of flexibly connected weights operatively engaged with the door for moving the door into open position,

a member provided with a notch, means engageable within said notch to support the outer portion of the flexibly connected weights. a movable member supported adjacent to said notch, and means operating during the closing movement of the door to release the means within the notch.

6. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening. means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a flexible mem ber operatively connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible member having a portion depending from the throw 'ofl member having an eye through whichthe flexible member is directed, a part carried by 10 the flexible member for contact with the operating member upon closing movement of the door to move the operating member to make the throw ofl member effective.

I. In combination-with a building having a door 15 opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening,

means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a flexible member operatively connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible member 20 having a portion depending from the guiding means, a series of flexibly connected weights carried by the depending portion of the flexible member, means for selectively supporting the outer portion of the flexible series of weights at diflerent heights, a throw ofl member associated with a point of suspension, a movable operating member for the throw oflmember, said throw ofl member having an eye through which the flexible member 'is directed, and a part carried by the '30 flexible member for contact with the operating I opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening,

means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a flexible member operatlvely connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible member having a portion depending irom the guiding means, a series flexibly connected weights carried by the depending portion of the flexible 4 member, means for selectively supporting the outer portion or the flexible series of weights at diflerent heights, a throw ofl member associated with a point of suspension, a movable operating member for the throw ofl member, said throw I 01! member having an eye through which th flexible member is directed, a part carried by the flexible member for contact with the operating member upon closing movement of the door to move the operating member-to make the throw ofl member effective, said operating member carrying a block for direct contact with the throw ofl member, and means for holding the block in selective adjustment upon the operating member. 9. In combination with a building having a door opening in a wall thereof, a door for said opening, means for supporting the door for movement into open or closed position, a flexible member op-.

eratively connected with the door, a guiding means for said flexible member, said flexible memher having a portion depending from the guiding means, a series of flexibly connected weights carried by the depending portion of the flexible member, means for selectively supporting the outer portion of the flexible series "of weights at difierent heights, a throw ofl member associated with a point of suspension, a movable operating member for the throw ofl member, said throw on member having an eye through which the flexible member is directed, and a part carried by the flexible member for contact with the operating member upon closing movement of the door to move the operating member to make the throw ofl member eflective, said operating member carrying a block for direct contact with the throw off member, said block having a cam face for contact with the throw ofl member upon movement of the operating member to allow the block to" pass back beyond the throw off member.

' 10. A vertically movable door, a flexible weighted member secured to the door, guiding means for the flexible member constructed and arranged to permit the weighted flexible member to move the door into open position, means for supporting the outerend portion of the flexible member in a raised position to reduce the pull of the weighted member upon the door when being moved into closed position, and means operating automatically to release said suspended end of the weighted flexible member substantially at the time the door reaches its fully closed position so that the weighted flexible member will be in full effective position to reopen the'door, and releasable means for holding the door in closed position.

. ALBERT S'I'EINER. 

